The exodus to the provinces has begun for the holidays devoted to the dearly departed. Buses and ferries are packed, and families are preparing for a long break. The Philippine National Police has activated special security measures for a peaceful observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Apart from police security measures, authorities should also see to it that those who take public buses and ships travel safely. Some of the country’s deadliest maritime disasters and road accidents occurred at around the time of major holidays. Ferries are overloaded with cargo, which are often stowed haphazardly, triggering fires. Passengers are crammed into poorly maintained ships, with operators failing to keep accurate manifests. This makes the search for survivors and fatalities difficult if a vessel sinks from overloading.
Ship crew also celebrate the holidays by getting drunk. The world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster – the collision of the ferry Doña Paz and the oil tanker Vector on Dec. 20, 1987 in Tablas Strait, which claimed nearly 4,400 lives – was blamed partly on drunken crew.
Ship security improved after a bomb was set off on the SuperFerry 14 near the mouth of Manila Bay on Feb. 27, 2004. But the terrorist attack by the Abu Sayyaf, which left at least 116 people dead, can happen again if security measures are relaxed.
Those traveling by public utility buses and jeepneys, meanwhile, also have to contend with threats of bomb attacks, overloading, and drivers who take drugs to stay awake on long hauls. Too many buses and jeepneys have plunged off cliffs on narrow mountain roads. Authorities should make it clear to mass transport operators that they must ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles and the sound performance of their drivers. Those who provide services to the public must make safety a priority.